Cuba Struggles to Safeguard Tourism as Health Risks, Water Shortages and Limited Medical Resources Undermine Visitor Confidence

Published on December 14, 2025

Cuba is facing a severe public health emergency that is threatening its tourism industry during one of the busiest periods of the year. Authorities have reported widespread outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases, including chikungunya, dengue, and hepatitis A. Travelers who are not vaccinated against these illnesses are being strongly advised to reconsider their plans, as the health risks on the island continue to grow.

The crisis comes at a particularly challenging moment for Cuba’s tourism sector, which is still recovering from a year of sharply declining visitor numbers. Estimates indicate that 2025 international arrivals will be less than half of the four million visitors recorded in 2016. The public health emergency is compounded by persistent gaps in essential services such as electricity, clean water, and waste management, all of which have worsened the spread of infectious diseases and created unsafe conditions for tourists and residents alike.

Tourist data underscore the economic impact. From January to September 2025, only 36,788 Spanish visitors arrived in Cuba, a decline of 27% compared with the previous year. Canadian tourism, long one of the island’s largest markets, also fell dramatically, with 478,388 arrivals recorded in the first seven months of 2025, down from 622,204 in 2024. These declines highlight the financial strain that public health and infrastructure failures are placing on the economy.

Experts say the current situation is the result of long-standing investment policies that prioritized tourism infrastructure over critical sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and energy. Over the past decade, significant funding went toward hotels, resorts, and other tourism-related developments, while water supply systems, sanitation services, and medical facilities were underfunded. The imbalance has created conditions where luxury hotels operate in cities experiencing long water outages and hospitals struggle to maintain adequate staffing and medical supplies.

Investment statistics reflect these priorities. By 2024, more than one-third of total national investment focused on tourism and associated business services, while agriculture accounted for just 3% and public health for only 1.9%. The consequences of this imbalance are now evident in widespread health emergencies and ongoing service shortages.

In 2025, authorities have begun to adjust priorities. Investment in tourism dropped to 5.2%, while spending on essential services such as electricity, gas, and water surged to 36.7%, becoming the largest allocation. Transportation infrastructure, crucial for moving people and goods, also saw a rise to 10.7%. Despite these changes, other vital areas remain critically underfunded. Agriculture, essential for food security, receives only 2.1% of investment, while education, science, and healthcare remain at minimal levels, leaving them ill-equipped to handle systemic challenges.

Healthcare warnings for visitors remain significant. While medical personnel are generally capable, hospitals and clinics are under-resourced. Tourists must pay upfront for treatment, and failure to settle bills may prevent departure from the country. Bottled water is strongly recommended due to hepatitis A risks, highlighting ongoing concerns with sanitation and hygiene.

International travel advisories echo these warnings, reflecting widespread concern over safety and the limitations of Cuba’s healthcare infrastructure. Although recent shifts in investment suggest an effort to address these problems, the effects will take years to materialize. Investments in public health, utilities, and agriculture require long-term commitment before tangible improvements are seen, leaving the tourism sector vulnerable in the immediate future.

The current crisis highlights the long-term consequences of prioritizing short-term tourism revenue over fundamental public services. Epidemics, utility shortages, and infrastructure deficiencies are now threatening one of the country’s primary sources of foreign currency. Without sustained, focused investment in healthcare, essential services, and agriculture, Cuba’s tourism industry may continue to struggle, even as recovery efforts are initiated. Travelers are advised to take necessary precautions and remain informed, while the nation works to stabilize public services and rebuild confidence in its tourism offerings.